Is Your Back Pain due to Spinal Stenosis Causing Memory Problems? The Brain-Spine Connection Explained

If you're dealing with spinal stenosis or chronic back pain, you know the daily struggle—the stiffness, the discomfort, the aching, the limitations, the endless quest for something that actually works. But here's something you might not have thought about: your back pain could be impacting more than just your physical comfort. It might actually be affecting your brain function.

That brain fog you experience during a bad back pain day? It's real, not just in your head. A recent study looking at older adults across the United States uncovered a striking link: people with spinal pain were significantly more likely to notice cognitive difficulties. (1) This is not just about being distracted by discomfort—there appears to be a real connection between spinal health and how well your brain functions.

Think about it: your spine isn't just a structural support system. It protects your central nervous system, the vital pathway that lets your brain and body talk to each other. When spinal stenosis disrupts that system, the consequences can spread far beyond your back.

Before you get too worried, there's encouraging news: research shows some surprisingly easy solutions might make a real difference. Studies have shown that daily multivitamin supplementation can boost cognitive function in older adults. One study found that elderly women taking a combined multivitamin, mineral, and herbal supplement for just 16 weeks experienced measurable memory improvements. (2) Similar research in older men showed that comprehensive nutritional supplementation positively impacted both cognition and blood biomarkers. (3)

While these studies didn't focus exclusively on back pain sufferers, they suggest that assisting your body nutritionally could give cognitive benefits—potentially offsetting some of the mental fog that accompanies chronic pain.

Now, this is where your chiropractor's care can help. If spinal problems further cognitive issues, doesn't it make sense that treating those spinal problems could help? A documented case of an 80-year-old woman with chronic low back pain showed significant improvement through specialized chiropractic techniques, specifically modified Cox® Technic flexion distraction decompression performed in a gentle, side-lying position. (4) By reducing chronic spinal pain, chiropractic spinal manipulation may boost your entire system—including your brain.

If you're dealing with back pain and noticing that your memory or focus isn't what it used to be, there are options beyond just accepting it. Consider a two-pronged approach: start with a quality daily multivitamin to support your nutritional foundation, and talk with your your chiropractor at Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC about how spinal manipulation helps address the root causes of your discomfort. Your back—and your brain—will be so grateful.

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr.  Cameron McConville  on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates relieving, gentle care of spinal stenosis with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.